Beijing on NKorea crisis, Brazil meat scandal

published: 2017-03-26 13:01:00 (21 Mar 2017) China reiterated on Tuesday its hope that all sides involved in the Korean peninsula nuclear stand off can join forces and “settle this issue through dialogue and consultation.” The remarks came from Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a regular briefing in Beijing. A spokesman for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Monday slammed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s recent talk of tougher sanctions, more pressure, and possible military action, and said the North would not be deterred in its nuclear programme. Tillerson recently visited Japan, South Korea and China on trip that focused on North Korea’s nuclear programme. On Friday, he signaled a tougher strategy that left open the possibility of pre-emptive military action. At the same briefing Hua also commented on a scandal over alleged bribery in Brazil’s meat-packing industry which allowed the sale of expired meat.

China has temporarily suspended imports of meat from Brazil and Hua urged the Brazilian authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged scandal.